Tosado asks mayor and schools chief to rescind $12,000 pay hike

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield City Council President and Mayoral candidate José Tosado said the city has to reign in spending instead of lavishing big pay raises at a time when it is pushing to cut 12 days pay from 1,500 employees.

Referring to the $12,000 a year raise approved for School Superintendent Alan Ingram, Tosado said, “It is appalling and wrong that at a time when the mayor is asking 1,500 loyal employees to take a cut in pay through furlough, when many live check to check, that he support a $12,000 pay hike for the schools chief. This is not just about Dr. Ingram’s performance, this is about irresponsible money management.”

With the raise, Dr. Ingram now receives $202,000 annually to lead a school district with high school dropout rate numbers that are still at more than 50 percent. “This is catastrophic for generations to come. We need to put more money into educating our children, not doling out extravagant pay raises.”

“The mayor has asked city employees to bear the brunt of his own fiscal mismanagement that resulted in a $5 million budget gap and this $12,000 pay hike is yet another example of the administration's out-of-control spending. In addition, I would ask that if furloughs are to be taken, that it start with the highest paid employees. That would demonstrate real leadership.”